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Auckland 9s To Return Earlier

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The Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines, which played to sell-out crowds earlier this year, will return in early 2015.

The NRL, Duco Events and Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Agency announced that the Nines Tournament will be held again at Eden Park from Saturday 31 January to Sunday 1 February 2015.

All 16 NRL teams will enter the tournament which carries prize money of more than AUD $2.4 million. And the size of each playing squad has been increased from 16 to 18 – enabling teams to rotate more players and provide them with longer rest periods.

The teams, which have nine players each, are split into four groups and play nine minute halves.

The top two teams from each pool group advance to the knockout quarter and semi final stages of the tournament, with the two top teams eventually playing in the final.

This year's inaugural tournament, won by the North Queensland Cowboys over the Brisbane Broncos, was played in front of a crowd of nearly 90,000 fans over the two days.

NRL Head of Commercial, Paul Kind said the Nines is a fun and spectacular way of playing rugby league.

“The atmosphere earlier this year was absolutely brilliant and saw thousands of Australians travel to New Zealand for the event's first year.

“Not only does it produce great football, but it brings enormous economic benefits to New Zealand.”

A post-event independent evaluation released in June, found that the 2014 tournament expanded Auckland’s Gross Domestic Product by $9.35 million, of which $3.24 million came into the New Zealand economy from offshore.

It attracted 16,000 New Zealanders from outside Auckland, in addition to the 6,000 Australians who crossed the Tasman to watch the Nines.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the Nines provided outstanding entertainment for league fans and superb economic returns for Auckland in 2014.

“Event organisers will once again transform Eden Park into a rugby league playground, and the Nines is set to become a very special event in Auckland’s major events landscape”, he said.

The tournament was globally recognised at the prestigious Sport Business International Awards in London last April.

“This year fans and families really embraced this great Nine's concept and enjoyed the tournament,” Abboud said.

“Seeing Eden Park filled for two days with over 90,000 fans was just amazing, and Dick Smith are delighted to be naming rights partner of the event again and look forward to growing the concept in years to come.”

Duco Events Director David Higgins urged fans to put their names on the Ticketek waiting list to secure seats to the 2015 tournament.

“We expect huge demand for next year’s event and, by using the waiting list, fans can be notified when different categories of tickets go on sale.”

Event travel packages will go on-sale in Australia from Monday 8 September through Sportsnet Holidays.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public from Thursday 9 October.

The Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines is a live 31 game two-day rugby league extravaganza:

- 16 NRL teams with 288 players competing

- Star players are contractually guaranteed

- Squad size has increased from 16 – 18 players per team to rotate more players and provide longer rest periods

- Teams will be made up of nine players across four pools of four

- AUD $2.4 million dollars in prize money

- A crowd of more than 90,000 expected over two days

The tournament is thanks to a partnership between the NRL and New Zealand’s Duco Events, and sponsors ATEED and Dick Smith.

ATEED is the foundation host city sponsor, on behalf of Auckland Council and will invest $NZ 9 million over five years as part of Auckland’s Major Events Strategy, while Dick Smith is also on board through to 2018.